World manufacturing ends 2013 on a strong note

LONDON/BEIJING (Reuters) - Global manufacturing ended 2013 on a strong note as major exporters like Japan, Germany and Italy posted their fastest growth in years, although China's performance remained modest, surveys showed on Thursday. Euro zone manufacturing grew at the fastest rate since mid- 2011 in December on brisk business in Germany and Italy, Markit Purchasing Managers' Indexes (PMIs) showed. Add in the fastest growth in 7 1/2 years for Japanese manufacturing and no major slowdown in Chinese manufacturing output, and the stage is being set for a solid start to the year. Markit's Euro zone manufacturing PMI rose to 52.7 in December from 51.6 in November, above the 50 threshold for growth.

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